Mangosuthu Buthelezi: A Complex Legacy

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a Zulu nationalist and rival to Nelson Mandela during South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy, has died at the age of 95. Buthelezi, a hereditary chief of the Zulus and founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party, positioned himself as a voice for tribal and ethnic rights, advocating for a peaceful transition to democracy and free enterprise. However, critics accused him of collaborating with the apartheid regime and repressing anti-apartheid groups. Despite his influence during negotiations for a new Constitution, Buthelezi's party won only 10% of the votes in the first democratic elections, and he served as Minister of Home Affairs under President Mandela.